Diablo 3 closed beta goes live

A closed beta for Blizzard's long-awaited action RPG sequel Diablo 3 has just gone live, the developer has announced.

The first wave of invitations are in the process of being sent out, with more participants to be added later on in the test.

Should you be lucky enough to get the nod, you'll be able to play through part of the game's first act as any of the game's five classes - barbarian, witch doctor, monk, demon hunter or wizard. You can also go toe-to-toe with the Skeleton King, meet up with key characters in the Sanctuary and tinker with the game's skill and crafting systems.

If you want a shot at taking part you'll need to create a Battle.net account and sign up there.

"This closed beta test is an important milestone for us as we enter the final stages of development on Diablo 3," commented Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime.

"Our goal is to create the best action role-playing game experience to date, building on everything we've learned since the release of Diablo 2 and incorporating the powerful features of the new Battle.net platform. We hope players enjoy participating in the beta test and we look forward to hearing their feedback."